Two sisters from the inner west are pinning their hopes on the power of music to change the world for the better.
West Footscray’s Rebecca Spalding and her sister Ellen Spalding, of Yarraville, are giving a new lease of life to Rebecca’s song Refuge, a plea for compassion towards asylum seekers and refugees.
Singer-songwriter Rebecca said she wrote the song in response to immigration policies under the Howard government, but the message was more relevant than ever.
Rebecca began visiting the Maribyrnong Detention Centre and was struck by the sense of hopelessness among those locked away indefinitely. “Some of them had been in detention for as much as seven years,” she said.
Recent events on Nauru and Manus Island, and bipartisan support for offshore processing, reignited the fire in Rebecca’s heart and she now wants Refuge to reach a wider audience.
She has recorded the song with like-minded musicians and, with Ellen’s help, is seeking to raise money for a video clip via a crowdfunding website. “I’m a strong believer in the power of music to bring about change and fortify feeling,” Rebecca said. “A lot of people are feeling exasperated and I’m hoping we can bring some light and compassion and kindness to how we treat each other. We want the song to be their voice and to give
Refuge wings so it can spread its message of compassion.”
For more details, visit www.pozible.com/project/180398
